C by the Sea

Not very important announcement

I have an additional website that I just put together. As of right now, it is a work in progress/photo gallery, but if you want to check it out it's here: www.figgysgirl.com

Cathedrals

Just came across this as I was blog hopping (Christine Adolph Designs) this morning. Worth a read and some thought...

I'm invisible.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?"

I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?"

I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going ... she's going ... she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just returned from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean.

My unwashed hair was pulled up in a clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

(1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
(2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
(3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
(4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof?

No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees." I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

God Bless You as you build your Cathedrals!

-Author Unknown

Time for Bloggy nominations...

Leah has announced that it is once again time to send in your nominations for this year's Bloggys. Zip on over to Leah's Den, check out the categories and sent in your nominees. Even if you can't come up with a choice for every category, I bet you can think of at least some!

Flashback:

Tagged by Caleb Nation, here are my answers...

A- Attached or Single?: SOOO attached

B- Best Friend: Sherry (and David and I hope all family, of course!)

C- Cake or Pie: cake

D- Drink of Choice: water, tea (hot or iced), Starbucks white chocolate mocha (hot or iced) on rare occasions

E- Essential Item(s): camera, books, computer, indoor plumbing, patience, common sense, love

F- Favorite Color: that cool greenish blue aquay color -- in all shades

G- Gummi Bears or Worms?: personally, if it ain't chocolate, well...

H- Hometown: EQ, NY

I- Indulgence: new tech gadgets

J- January or February: January. It seems like a fresh slate.

K- Kids: 3+3+5

L- Life is incomplete without: faith, family, friends, laughter

M- Marriage Date: August 20, 1967

N- Number of Siblings: 1 here, 1 above

O- Oranges or Apples?: If it's the right apple -- crisp, crunchy, a bit tart and not mealy -- then apple.

P- Phobia: I don't think so. Others may disagree. Feel free to comment.

Q- Favorite Quote: You're talking to "Quote Woman" here. You don't expect me to have just one favorite, do you???

Here's one of many I like:

"Glance at the sun.
See the moon and the stars.
Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings.
Now,
Think."

R- Reasons to smile: Children, laughter, a roof over my head, food, health, birds singing outside my window. Lots of reasons -- just look around!

S- Season: Fall

T- Tag Three: Leah's Den, Little Hornez, Jack's Galaxy

U- Unknown Fact About Me: If I tell it won't be unknown.

V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals?: Love vegetables, but I don't oppress animals either, do I?

W- Worst Habit: wasting time

X- X-rays or Ultrasounds?: I'd rather not get radiated, so I pick ultrasounds.

Y- Your Favorite Foods: Anything Italian, sushi, salads, breads...

Z- Zodiac: Taurus -- not that I believe that stuff. Although I am rather bull-like. Hmmm....

There you go. Glad they didn't have to be one word answers! ; )

Not only is our actual family growing all the time, but our virtual family is too! Noah and Sam have now entered the blogging world. (Can their grandmother Sherry be far behind??) Check them out at My Brothers Realm.

Just announced today: Reed This

Leah's Den has several new posts.  Check them out!

Okay, apparently I'm supposed to answer these questions with one word. You all know that I can be very, shall we say, "verbal" so this will be interesting. Here goes:

1. Where is your cell phone?  Bureau
2. Relationship?  Long
3. Your hair?  Short
4. Work? Unpaid
5. Your sister?  Nope
6. Your favorite thing?  Family
7. Your dream last night?  Forgettable
8. Your favorite drink?  Water
9. Your dream car? Odyssey
10. The room you’re in?  Mine
11. Your shoes?  Off
12. Your fear?  Loss
13. What do you want to be in 10 years?  Alive
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend?  Family
15. What you’re not good at?  ONEWORDANSWERS
16. Muffin?  Top
17. One of your wish list items?  iPhone
18. Where you grew up? NJNYMDCANCJapan
19. The last thing you did?  Cooked
20. What are you wearing?  Jammies
21. What aren’t you wearing?  Glasses
22. Your pet?  Rock
23. Your computer? Mac
24. Your life?  Blessed
25. Your mood?  Content
26. Missing?  Marbles
27. What are you thinking about right now?  ONEWORDANSWERS
28. Your car?  Odyssey
29. Your kitchen?    Original
30. Your summer?  Busy
31. Your favorite color?   Rainbow
32. When is the last time you laughed?  Yesterday
33. Last time you cried?  Yesterday
34. School?  Many
35. Love?  Essential

There you have it. Please direct all inquiries to my psychiatrist...

(oh, and I tag Caleb Nation, Leah's Den and Smorgasblog!)

Just when you least expect it, Smorgasblog has TWO THREE NEW POSTS! As soon as your heart rate gets back to normal, check it out!

Again, I came across this video this morning as I was visiting Ali's blog. The link to it was actually left by someone in their comment. The speaker is Sir Ken Robinson and he was speaking at the TED (Technology  Entertainment Design) conference in California. He believes that our educational system tends to stress producing good workers rather than creative thinkers. It takes about 20 minutes to watch, but I think you will really get something from it.

"“Creativity is as important in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status.” Sir Ken Robinson

***FYI: I turned the music off on the blog so it wouldn't interfere with the video. If you want to hear it, just click on the play button...

A to Z

Tagged by Caleb Nation, here are my answers...

A- Attached or Single?: SOOO attached

B- Best Friend: Sherry (and David and I hope all family, of course!)

C- Cake or Pie: cake

D- Drink of Choice: water, tea (hot or iced), Starbucks white chocolate mocha (hot or iced) on rare occasions

E- Essential Item(s): camera, books, computer, indoor plumbing, patience, common sense, love

F- Favorite Color: that cool greenish blue aquay color -- in all shades

G- Gummi Bears or Worms?: personally, if it ain't chocolate, well...

H- Hometown: EQ, NY

I- Indulgence: new tech gadgets

J- January or February: January. It seems like a fresh slate.

K- Kids: 3+3+5

L- Life is incomplete without: faith, family, friends, laughter

M- Marriage Date: August 20, 1967

N- Number of Siblings: 1 here, 1 above

O- Oranges or Apples?: If it's the right apple -- crisp, crunchy, a bit tart and not mealy -- then apple.

P- Phobia: I don't think so. Others may disagree. Feel free to comment.

Q- Favorite Quote: You're talking to "Quote Woman" here. You don't expect me to have just one favorite, do you???

Here's one of many I like:

"Glance at the sun.
See the moon and the stars.
Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings.
Now,
Think."

R- Reasons to smile: Children, laughter, a roof over my head, food, health, birds singing outside my window. Lots of reasons -- just look around!

S- Season: Fall

T- Tag Three: Leah's Den, Little Hornez, Jack's Galaxy

U- Unknown Fact About Me: If I tell it won't be unknown.

V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals?: Love vegetables, but I don't oppress animals either, do I?

W- Worst Habit: wasting time

X- X-rays or Ultrasounds?: I'd rather not get radiated, so I pick ultrasounds.

Y- Your Favorite Foods: Anything Italian, sushi, salads, breads...

Z- Zodiac: Taurus -- not that I believe that stuff. Although I am rather bull-like. Hmmm....

There you go. Glad they didn't have to be one word answers! ; )

Announcement

Not only is our actual family growing all the time, but our virtual family is too! Noah and Sam have now entered the blogging world. (Can their grandmother Sherry be far behind??) Check them out at My Brothers Realm.

New blog

Just announced today: Reed This

Announcement

Leah's Den has several new posts.  Check them out!

Tag! I'm it.

Okay, apparently I'm supposed to answer these questions with one word. You all know that I can be very, shall we say, "verbal" so this will be interesting. Here goes:

1. Where is your cell phone?  Bureau
2. Relationship?  Long
3. Your hair?  Short
4. Work? Unpaid
5. Your sister?  Nope
6. Your favorite thing?  Family
7. Your dream last night?  Forgettable
8. Your favorite drink?  Water
9. Your dream car? Odyssey
10. The room you’re in?  Mine
11. Your shoes?  Off
12. Your fear?  Loss
13. What do you want to be in 10 years?  Alive
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend?  Family
15. What you’re not good at?  ONEWORDANSWERS
16. Muffin?  Top
17. One of your wish list items?  iPhone
18. Where you grew up? NJNYMDCANCJapan
19. The last thing you did?  Cooked
20. What are you wearing?  Jammies
21. What aren’t you wearing?  Glasses
22. Your pet?  Rock
23. Your computer? Mac
24. Your life?  Blessed
25. Your mood?  Content
26. Missing?  Marbles
27. What are you thinking about right now?  ONEWORDANSWERS
28. Your car?  Odyssey
29. Your kitchen?    Original
30. Your summer?  Busy
31. Your favorite color?   Rainbow
32. When is the last time you laughed?  Yesterday
33. Last time you cried?  Yesterday
34. School?  Many
35. Love?  Essential

There you have it. Please direct all inquiries to my psychiatrist...

(oh, and I tag Caleb Nation, Leah's Den and Smorgasblog!)

Sometimes, you just need to be patient...

Just when you least expect it, Smorgasblog has TWO THREE NEW POSTS! As soon as your heart rate gets back to normal, check it out!

Another video that makes you think

Again, I came across this video this morning as I was visiting Ali's blog. The link to it was actually left by someone in their comment. The speaker is Sir Ken Robinson and he was speaking at the TED (Technology  Entertainment Design) conference in California. He believes that our educational system tends to stress producing good workers rather than creative thinkers. It takes about 20 minutes to watch, but I think you will really get something from it.

"“Creativity is as important in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status.” Sir Ken Robinson

***FYI: I turned the music off on the blog so it wouldn't interfere with the video. If you want to hear it, just click on the play button...